Paring and shelling tool



y 1951 c. s. HALL 2,554,189

PARING AND SHELLING TOOL Filed Aug. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR, CLINTON 5. HALL May 22, 1951 I c. s. HALL I 2,554,189

PARING AND SHELLING TOOL Filed Aug. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLINTON S. HALL uz 5! BY W Patented May 22, 1951 UNITEDTSTATES PATENT OFFICE PARING AND SHELLING TOOL Clinton S. Hall, Farmington, Mich.

Application August 14, 1947, Serial No. 768,613

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvement in a food paring tool which is particularly adapted for paring fruit and vegetables and for shelling peas, beans, and the like.

Primary objects of the present invention are:

(1) To provide a simplified and economically manufactured parin tool of improved construction which is adapted to utilize a conventional double edged razor for the cutting element, and which provides a simplified curling element to curl parings out of the operators way;

(2) To provide an improved paring head for such a tool which may be readily and quickly mounted selectively to a handle in one of two alternative positions to effect different paring depths, and to provide an improved clasp for simplifying the mounting of said paring head to its handle;

(3) To provide a paring tool having a pivotally mounted paring head adapted to ride with the contour of the object being pared so as to cut at a uniform paring depth, thereby reducing waste and facilitating the paring operation;

(4) To provide a paring tool of the character described which may be conveniently used in either the left or right hand of the operator; and

(5) To provide a novel and improved paring tool which is particularly adapted for use in shelling peas, beans, and the like.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to'the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a paring tool embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is essentially a side view of the tool shown in Fig. 1, showing the pivotal paring head in an alternative position in phantom.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section through the paring head and taken essentially in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing a potato in phantom being peeled.

Fig. 4 is essentially a fragmentary bottom view of the paring end of the tool shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is essentially an oblique view of another embodiment of a paring tool employin the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially in the direction of the arrows along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing a pod of peas in phantom being shelled. p

Fig. '7 is essentially a fragmentary view of the end portion of the stripper finger, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is essentially a section through the stripper finger, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, a particular embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 through 4 wherein a handle member I0, which may be suitably formed from a sheet metal stamping, molded plastic, or the like, provides the lateral paring head holding arms l2 and I l. The arm 12 provides the pivot hole l6, Fig. 3. The arm l4 provides the corresponding pivot slot l8,

Fig. 2. A movement limiting stop 20 projects inward from the arm [2 to limit the pivotal movement of the arcuate blade holding seat 22, which latter is essentially symmetrically constructed on opposite sides of the longitudinally extending groove 24, Figs. 1 and 3. I

Parallel to the groove 24 and on opposite sides thereof are the two longitudinal paring slots 26, each having a mesial chamfered edge 28 and being bounded laterally by a guide bar 30 integral with the blade seat 22 and being connected therewith by the arm portions thereof which deter mine the short end boundaries of the longitudinal paring slots 26. With the paring head in the operative position shown in Fig. 3, the internal edge of each guide bar 3|] is curved upward to provide a rounded contact surface for readily gliding over the surface of the object being pared.

The paring head is detachably connected pivotally in one of two alternative positions between the arms l2 and [4 by means of the two pair of coaxial pivot pins 32 projecting laterally from the blade seat of the paring head and. having their longitudinal axes parallel to the guide bars 30. Each coaxial pair of pivot pins 32 is disposed essentially along a continuation of the longitudinal median line of one of each of the longitudinal paring slots 26. One pin 32 of each coaxial pair fits within the pivot hole I6 provided therefor by the arm [2 and the opposite coaxial pin is slidably moved into position within the pivot slot 18 provided therefor in the arm l4 and is suitably held in place by a clasp described in detail below.

The under or convex blade seating surface of the blade seat 22 is adapted to seat a thin double edged blade 34, which preferably may be a conventional double edged razor blade, with one of each of the cutting edges thereof parallel to the guide bars .30 .and disposed essentially centrally below one of each of thelongitudinal paring slots 26. Thus each cutting edge of the blade 3-! is exposed by the corresponding paring slot 26 to permit paring as the paring head is drawn over the surface of an object to be pared. With the razor blade 34 in the operative position shown, the longitudnal median line thereof lies essentially over the longitudinal :groove 24 and is held in the operative position shown ,by the clamping plate 36 which provides the longitudinal ridge 38 adapted to pass through the conwent'ional central opening of the double edged safety razor blade 34 and to fit within the groove :24. The blade 34 is thus :detachabl-y clamped securely between the concave surface of the plate '36 and the convex surface of the seat 22 by the plurality of screws 40 within mating screwthreaded holes provided therefor by the groove 24 and :ridge '38.

It is preferred that the longitudinal edges 42 of theclampingpla'te 36 arechamfered as shown in i-Fig. 3 and are disposed relative to the cutting edges of the .blade 34 to leave an exposed portion of each bladebelow its respective paring .slot '26., :Fig. 4. The clamping plate 36 also providesthecorner wings which cover the corner portions of the thin blade '34 and lend support thereto when thetool is inuse.

with the paring Snead detachably connected :pivota'lly in the operative position shown, the .blade 34 being clamped to the convex undersurface of the seat 22 and one coaxial pair of pins 32 being inserted into the corresponding :pivot hole [6 and slot 18, the paring head may be conveniently locked in position by the flat liook-or-clasp 46 which lies parallel to the bracket arm 14 and .provides the pin slot 48 adapted to receive the pin :32 within the slot I-8 and to cooperate with the slot l8 for-completing an enclosure around the said pin 32,.Fig. '2. The upper portion of the clasp 46 provides :the flange 50 adapted to overlie the upper portion of the arm 14 and to prevent downward pivotal movement of the clasp 46 about the screw 52 which secures the clasp 46 to the arm l4. Upward pivotal movement of the clasp 46 about the screw 52 is prevented by the pin 32, within the slot I8 which pin 32 is held against upward movement by the body of the arm I4. 'Thus the pin 32 is supported from above and below, respectively, by the body of the arm l4 and by the bod-yof the clasp 46.

The present invention maybe utilized in peelingfruits and vegetables by drawing the paring head "from'left toright across the :topof the object being pared, Fig. 3. In :paring the potato i53,-;shown .in phantomlby way of example in Fig. 3, .the leading guide bar 30 adjacent the handle 1 0 rides along the upper surface of the potato .53. The :leading edge of the double edged blade 34will then cut just' below the surfaceof the potato 53. Theparing'55, also shown in phantom, will be separated through the leading paring slot 28. The paring55 is curledupward and out of the way of the operator as-itstrikes the rounded outer edge :of the-groove 1214, which latter serves as a :curler as well .as a means forsecuring the .edge of the blade 34 will pare at an essentially uniform depth regardless of ordinary surface irregularities in the object being pared, such as the potato 53. This feature avoids waste and facilitates the paring operation so that the operator may utilize the tool efficiently and speedily with aminimum of experience or practice.

The depth of the paring cut is determined by the width of the slot 26 and the angular dispositionof the cutting edge of the blade :34 relative to the seat 22 and the corresponding guide par 36. Accordingly, it is feasible to adapt one cutting element of the paring head-for deep paring and the other for thin paring. The tool .is readily assembled for light or deep paring merely upon loosening the screw 52 and selectively insorting the proper pair of coaxial pivot pins :32 within the hole I6 and slot l8 provided therefor.

An important feature of the present invention is to be noted in the disposition of the paring head with its pivotedaxes and cutting elements perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the handle It]. By this provision, the single tool may be convenientl utilized by .either a left or righthanded operator, the paring head being reversible as described above for either operator to permit a choice as to the paring depth.

Another embodiment .of the present invention is shown in Figs. 5 through 8 wherein an essentially H-shaped handle 56 issuitably formed from plastic or sheet metal by way of example and provides the four legs 58 having rounded sides so as .to fit comfortably within the palm of the hand of the operator. In order to facilitate gripping thebody 56 and to prevent the hand from slipping down the sides thereof, the legs 58 are slightly inclined toward each other from bottom to 'tOp so that the spacing between the legs 58 at the top of the handle is less than the corresponding spacing at the bottoms thereof.

Extending in a curve from the body 56 and from between the upper legs 58 is the arcuate stripper finger 66 which terminates in the rounded point 62 and provides the laterally extending pod guides 64, Figs. 7 and 8. The pod guides 64 provide the rounded leading edges 66 and are suitably spaced from the tip 62 to permit the latter to reach the bottom of a pod, such as a pea or bean pod, as the pod guides 64 glide along the edges of an opened pod, Fig. .6. Extended essentially vertically from the body 56 and from between the lower legs 56 is the bracket .68 which terminates in a vertically downward extension 10. Parallel vertical paring head bracket arms 12 and '14 extend forward from the right and left sides respectively of the downward extension 10, Fig. 5, and carry a pivotal paring head between them by means of the pivot slot in the arm 12, corresponding in function to the pivot slot I8 in the arm 14, and the pivot hole 18 in the arm 14, corresponding in function to the pivot hole IS in the arm I 2.

The embodiment of the paring head shown in Figs. 5 through 8 is similar in 'itsessential details double edged blade 34, the central groove 82; the V two-paring slots 84 on opposite sides of the groove 82, the mesial chamfered edges 86 of the slots 84, the two guide bars 88 or lateral edges of the slots 84, and the two pair of laterall extending pivot pins 90, all of which are similar in arrangement and function to the corresponding above described features, namely, the arcuate ,blade seat 22, the groove 24 therein, the two paring slots 26, the mesial chamfered edges I 20, the guide bars 30, and the pivot pins 32.

The blade 34 is clamped to the seat 80 by means of the arcuate clamping plate 92, Fig. 5, which provides the longitudinal ridge 94 adapted to fit within the'central opening of the blade 34 and the groove 82 and to be secured to the seat BII-by the plurality of screws 90 which screw into screwthreaded openings provided therefor by the ridge 94 and groove 82. The clamping plate 92 also provides the opposite chamfered edges 98 as shown. and the four corner wings I which cover the corners of the blade 34 to support the latter in the operative position against excessive bending during paring.

The clasp I02 provides the notch I04 for reoeiving the pin 90 within the slot 16 and is adapted to lie adjacent the side of the arm to prevent removal of the pin 90 from the pivot slot I6 similarly in the manner by which the clasp 46 closes the pivot slot I8. The flange IIIB'onthe end of the clasp I02 overlies the forward edge of the bracket arm 12 to prevent counterclockwise pivoting of the clasp I02 about the screw -I08 which secures the clasp I02 to the side of 'the arm I2. Clockwise pivoting of the clasp I02 is prevented by contact with the pin 90 which is blocked against upward movement by the body of the bracket I2.

A structural difference between the paring head shown in Figs. through 8 and that shown in Figs. 1 through 4 is noted in the upraised guide flanges H0 at opposite ends of eachparing slot 84. The flanges I I0 serve to guide the object being pared, such as the pea pod I I2 shown by way of example in phantom, Fig. 6. Another difference has been the elimination of the movement limiting stop 20. The function of the latter is accomplished by the lower edge of the downward projecting bracket I0, which contacts the lower portion of the blade seat 80 to limit its counterclockwise pivoting, and the upper edge of the bracket I0, which limits clockwise pivoting of the blade seat 80 by contacting the upper portio thereof.

The paring tool shown in Figs. 5 through 8 is particularly adapted for shelling peas, beans, and the like. In operation the tool is held in one hand. The pod to be shell is held in the other hand with the concave curvature thereof facing the paring head. The lower cutting edge of the double edged blade 34 is then drawn downward along the concave edge of the pod, from top to bottom, thereby slicing a paring II4 from the inner or concave edge of the pod I I2 and opening the latter. As the paring head is drawn down, it is followed by the stripper finger 60 which enters the uppermost portion of the pod IIZ so as to spread the latter apart and strip the peas I I6 therefrom, Fig. 6. The paring H4 is curled out of the way of the operator by contact with the outer surface of the groove 82. Thus in one operation, the pod H2 is opened by the paring head and the finger 60 strips the peas I I6 from the pod II2. Thus the time consuming preparation of Lima beans, peas, and the like is greatly simplified. The rounded edges 66 of the pod guides 64 glide along the concave edges of the opposite halves of the pod I I2 and assist the operator both in holding the pod H2 perpendicular to the stripper finger 60 and in preventing the tip 62 from piercing or gouging the inner surface of the The embodiment "of the present invention shown in Figs. 5 through 8 possesses all the advantages previously described. It may'be used with equal feasibility in either hand. The pivotal paring head is adapted to follow'the contours of the object being pared. The double cutting elements may be adapted for thin paring by mounting the paring head in one position or for deep paring by reversing the paring head. Acordinary,'Lima beans which require a deep cut may be prepared with on cutting element of the paring head and peas which require a relatively thin out may be prepared upon reversing the paring head. The change-over from deep paring to thin paring, for example, is readily accomplished by virtue of the simplified clasp I02 which may be quickly loosened with a screw driver or knife blade.

I claim:

1. In a paring tool having a thin cutting blade, the combination of a handle having an axis of symmetry and a paring head pivotally connected therewith about a pivot axis perpendicular to said axis of symmetry, said paring head comprising a blade seat having a longitudinal paring slot therein formed by a guide bar parallel to the axis of said pivotal connection and spaced from said seat by lateral arms connecting said guide bar and seat, means to clamp said blade in an operative position to said blade seat with the cutting edge of said blade parallel to said guide bar and exposed by said slot, an extended stripper finger provided by said handle and having a probe at the end thereof spaced from said cutting blade and perpendicular thereto, and vertical guide flanges projecting from opposite ends of said paring slot.

2. In a paring tool having a thin cutting blade, the combination of a handle and a paring head pivotally connected therewith, said handle including a stripper finger extended over said cutting blade and having its longitudinal axis perpendicular to said cutting blade, said paring head comprising a blade seat having a longitudinal paring slot therein formed by a guide bar parallel to the pivot axis of said pivotal connection and spaced from said seat by lateral arms connecting said guide bar and seat, and means to clamp said blade in an operative position to said blade seat with the cutting edge of said blade parallel to said guide bar exposed by said paring slot.

3. The combination in a paring tool as claimed in claim 2 and being further characterized in that said extended stripper finger is adapted to probe a pea or bean pod and provides a pointed tip and lateral guide bars spaced from said tip for gliding along the edges of said pod when said tip is inserted into said pod.

4. In a paring tool, the combination of a paring head comprising a blade seat and clamping means for clamping a double edged safety razor blade in an operative position to said blade seat; a pair of longitudinal paring slots in said blade seat and spaced in parallelism on'opposite sides of the median line .of said blade seat to overlie the cut n e ge Of ai paie y azor blade c1amped't lidb ade seat, 'GEL' hiPfl'I I-FK QQI' ein completed by one of each of ,apair of parallel guide Vbars spaced from opposite sides of ;said;s eat by lateral arms connecting said seat an u d bars; a handle means having an axis of symmetry to permit either rightzor 'lefthanded 0P- eration of said .tool; and means ;for s electively'securing said paring head pivotally to said handle about alternative pivot axes which are perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of :said handle and parallelytosaid guide bars, lwhichmea ns include two pair of coaxial pivot :pins projected laterally fromsaid paring head oil-opposite ends of said paring slots and parallel to said guide bars, a pair of bracket arms provided by :the handle and spaced on-opposite sides of the axis of symmetry of said handle and parallel :thereto, a pivot :hole in one of said :arms for selectively Jeeeivingone of said pivot pins, a pivot slot for slideably receiving the coaxial pivot pm at the other end of the-paring slot, and clasp;means to close saidpivot slot and .to hold a pivot pin thereinagainst-slideable movement.

CLINTON S. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in :the file of :this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '1;6!77,44,8 Hopkins July 17, 1928 808,470 Manges .June 2, 11,931 2,228,572 Lofgren Jan. 14, 1941 2,266;278 Senkewitz Dec. '16, 1941 2347;924 7 Ottoson May 2, 194$ 

